"Enough!" Luna Victoria suddenly stood, fury blazing in her eyes. She pointed at me, voice shaking with rage. "You heartless woman! My son gave his life to protect this pack, and you would discard him and seek another mate?" Victoria had always despised me. In her eyes, I was unworthy-neither graceful nor gentle enough. If not for the Moon Goddess's decree and the alliance between our families, she would never have accepted me as her son's mate. "If Liam truly loved me," I said evenly, cutting through her tirade, "he would never wish for my soul to be chained to endless grief." Her hand struck my cheek in a sharp crack. "At my son's funeral, you dare to beg for a new mate? I will never allow it!" I looked into the coffin, at the face of the wolf inside, and my lips twisted in scorn. In my past life, I had been too blind to notice-it wasn't Jacob's body at all. Victoria took my disdain as defiance, spewing venom with every word, until Alpha Arthur finally ordered the guards to intervene. All the while, Liam clung protectively to Isabella's hand, shielding her as though afraid the conflict would frighten her. It was then I noticed the necklace at her throat: the Moon's Tear, sacred emblem of the Luna's status. He had already bestowed it upon her. Jacob's title and mate bond had been usurped by Liam's greedy hands. I laughed bitterly. In my last life, Liam had whispered promises. "When I ascend as Alpha, I'll place the Moon's Tear around your neck. Before the pack, you'll stand as the most honored Luna." But the Luna in his heart had never been me. And as the jeers rained down on me, he chose once again to remain silent-breaking the vow he had once sworn to protect me forever. Sensing the shift in my expression, Isabella stepped forward, unease flickering in her eyes. "Elena, calm down. Liam loved you. You shared so many beautiful moments. Do you really want to destroy that?" I ignored her pleading. My resolve was carved in stone. Still unwilling to relent, Liam growled, "Elena! Must you cause such a scene? How could you do this to my brother?" I sneered. "Your brother died for the pack. That is his honor. But it does not mean I must be buried with him." "You ungrateful, faithless woman!" Victoria pointed a shaking finger at me. "Do you not care for the bloodline of Silver Creek Pack? Do you not care for your father's name?" I drew breath to retort, but Isabella's voice rang out instead. Her tone trembled, but her words cut with unwavering resolve, "Elena, if word spreads, do you want every pack to believe the bloodline of Silver Creek is as cold and heartless as you?"